Sutera plant named &#39;G13340&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Sutera  plant named ‘G13340’, characterized by its cascading to trailing plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; large medium blue-colored flowers; and long flowering season.

Botanical designation: Sutera cordata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘G13340’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Suteraplant, botanically known as Sutera cordata and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘G13340’.

The new Sutera plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Bellefonte, Pa. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new cascading Sutera plants with numerouslarge blue-colored flowers and long flowering period.

The new Sutera plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted bythe Inventor in October, 2012 in Bellefonte, Pa. of a proprietaryselection of Sutera cordata identified as code number 23636-2, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofSutera cordata identified as code number 23639-5, not patented, as themale, or pollen, parent. The new Sutera plant was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny ofthe stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment inBellefonte, Pa. in September, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Sutera plant by terminal cuttings in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Bellefonte, Pa. since November,2013, has shown that the unique features of this new Sutera plant arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Sutera have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘G13340’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘G13340’ as a new and distinct Sutera plant:

-   -   1. Cascading to trailing plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Large medium blue-colored flowers.    -   6. Long flowering season.

Plants of the new Sutera can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. Plants of the new Sutera differ primarily from plants of thefemale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Sutera have larger flowers than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Sutera flower for a longer period of time        than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Sutera can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Sutera differ primarily from plants of themale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Sutera have larger flowers than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Sutera are darker blue in color        than flowers of plants of the male parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Sutera flower for a longer period of time        than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Sutera can be compared to plants of the Sutera cordata‘Wesbablue’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,192. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Bellefonte, Pa., plants of the new Suteradiffer primarily from plants of ‘Wesbablue’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Sutera are more cascading and trailing than        plants of ‘Wesbablue’.    -   2. Plants of the new Sutera have longer internodes than plants        of ‘Wesbablue’.

3 Plants of the new Sutera have darker green-colored leaves than plantsof ‘Wesbablue’.

-   -   4. Plants of the new Sutera have larger flowers than plants of        ‘Wesbablue.’    -   5. Plants of the new Sutera and ‘Wesbablue’ differ in flower        color as plants of ‘Wesbablue’ have violet blue-colored flowers.    -   6. Plants of the new Sutera flower for a longer period of time        than plants of ‘Wesbablue’.

Plants of the new Sutera can be compared to plants of the Sutera diffusa‘Sutcabl’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,234. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Bellefonte, Pa., plants of the new Suteradiffer primarily from plants of ‘Sutcabl’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Sutera are more vigorous than and not as        compact as plants of ‘Sutcabl’.    -   2. Plants of the new Sutera have longer internodes than plants        of ‘Sutcabl’.    -   3. Plants of the new Sutera have darker green-colored leaves        than plants of ‘Sutcabl’.    -   4. Plants of the new Sutera have larger flowers than plants of        ‘Sutcabl’.    -   5. Plants of the new Sutera and ‘Sutcabl’ differ in flower color        as plants of ‘Sutcabl’ have dark blue-colored flowers.    -   6. Plants of the new Sutera flower for a longer period of time        than plants of ‘Sutcabl’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Sutera plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Sutera plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a side perspective view ofa typical flowering plant of ‘G13340’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘G13340’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the autumn in 10-cm containersin an acrylic-covered greenhouse in Carleton, Mich. and under culturalpractices typical of commercial Sutera production. During the productionof the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 31° C.Plants were pinched one time and were five weeks from planting rootedcuttings when the photographs and description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Sutera cordata ‘G13340’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Sutera            cordata identified as code number 23636-2, not patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Sutera            cordata identified as code number 23639-5, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About seven to            ten days at soil temperatures ranging from about 21° C. to            22° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three to            four weeks at soil temperatures ranging from about 21° C. to            22° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four to            five weeks at soil temperatures ranging from about 21° C. to            22° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; creamy white            in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Cascading to trailing plant habit;            moderately vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 7.5            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 8.5            cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 24 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit; when pinched, about            three to four primary lateral branches each with up to six            secondary lateral branches develop per plant.        -   Length.—About 14 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong to strong.        -   Aspect.—Horizontally spreading to trailing.        -   Texture and luster.—Slightly pubescent; matte.        -   Color, developing and fully developed.—Close to 144A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate; after flowering,            opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 1.8 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.7 cm.        -   Shape.—Broadly elliptic to rounded deltoid.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Proximally, entire; distally, serrulate.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Scattered.            pubescent; slightly glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, reticulate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N137B.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A; venation,            close to N137A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to N137D; venation, close to N137B.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 3.5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color,            upper surface: Close to 137A. Color, lower surface: Close to            146B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Large single salverform flowers; freely            flowering habit with potentially about 100 flower buds and            open flowers per plant at one time; flowers face mostly            upright then turning outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flowering habit.—Early flowering habit, plants begin            flowering about five weeks after planting; long flowering            season, plants flower continuously from July to September in            Michigan.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about five days on the plant;            flowers persistent.        -   Flower diameter.—About 1.7 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 1.8 cm.        -   Throat diameter.—About 4 mm.        -   Tube length.—About 1.1 cm.        -   Tube diameter, mid-section.—About 3 mm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Shape: Obovate. Texture and luster: Smooth; matte. Color:            Close to 92D.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five per flower in a            single whorl; fused at the base. Lobe length: About 7 mm.            Lobe width: About 7 mm. Lobe shape: Orbicular. Lobe apex:            Obtuse, rounded. Lobe margin: Entire. Texture and luster,            petal lobes, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            matte. Texture, throat and tube: Pubescent, hairs minute.            Color: Petal lobes, when opening, upper surface: Close to            92B to 92C. Petal lobes, when opening, lower surface: Close            to 92D. Petal lobes, fully opened, upper surface: Close to            90C; venation, close to 90C; color shifts slightly to N88B            with development. Petal lobes, fully opened, lower surface:            Close to 90D; venation, close to 90D; color does not change            with development. Throat: Close to N163B; venation, close to            N163B. Tube: Mid-section and towards the base, close to            164B; towards the apex, close to 159B; venation, close to            164B to 164C.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five per flower in a            single whorl; fused at the base; calyx, star-shaped. Length:            About 6 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:            Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Pubescent, minute; matte. Color: When opening and            fully opened, upper surface: Close to N137A. When opening            and fully opened, lower surface: Close to N137B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle:            About 45° from vertical. Strength: Moderately strong.            Texture and luster: Pubescent, minute; matte. Color: Close            to 137B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity of stamens per            flower: About four. Filament length: About 6 mm. Filament            color: Close to NN155D. Anther shape: Oval. Anther size:            About 1.5 mm by 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 161A. Amount of            pollen: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 12B. Gynoecium:            Quantity of pistils per flower: One. Pistil length: About            1.2 cm. Style length: About 8 mm. Style color: Close to            145B. Stigma shape: Lanceolate. Stigma color: Close to 144A.            Ovary color: Close to 144A.        -   Seeds & fruits.—Seed and fruit production have not been            observed on plants of the new Sutera.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Sutera have been observed to    have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and suitable    for USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11.-   Pathogen & pest tolerance: Plants of the new Sutera have not been    observed to be tolerant to pathogens and pests common to Sutera    plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Sutera plant named ‘G13340’ asillustrated and described.